Improvement in repeating-ordnance



A. H. T owNsENn.

2 Sheets--Sheet I.

.' .'Sjs'lsusleefefe Patented .Iun'e 6,1871.

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IrmpovementA in Repeating Ordnance.` N. 115,659. Patentedjune6,1871.

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IMPROVEMENT IN REPEATlNG-ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,659, dated J une 6,1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. TOWNSEND, of Georgetown, in the county ofClear Greek and Territory of Colorado, have invented a new and ImprovedGun; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the artto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this specilication, in which- Figure 1, Sheet I,is'a side view of my improved gun, partly in section, through the line.fc w, Fig. 2. Fig. 2, Sheet I, is a top view of the same. Fig. 3, SheetII, is a rear view of the same. Fig. 4, Sheet Il, is a detail view ofthe rear ends of the barrels, showing their diagonal arrangement. Fig.5, Sheet II, is a detail sectional view of the breech-piece takenthrough the line y y, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. j

My invention relates to that class of guns which is constructed to thrownumerous balls from different barrels, and either simultaneously or inquick succession.

I will first describe my improvements in' connection with all that isnecessary to a full understanding thereof, and then clearly point themout in the claim.

A and B are two parts, which form the breech-piece of the gun. wct b'are corresponding perforations, made to register with each other, and toreceive the cartridge. At the point of junction or joint formed by theseplates are apertures F, connecting the several chambers, in order tocommunicate the fl're from one to the other. These apertures may beuniform in size or graduated diminishingly from first to last. C are thebarrels, formed independently and arranged one upon another in diagonalplanes. D is a plate between the breech-piece and the barrels, andhaving perforations correspondent thereto. The barrels are placed in twodivisions, one on each side of a central line, and each obliquedreversely thereto. E is the plate which supports the barrels; K, amuzzle-plate, to assist in holding them iirmly in position; and H Lplates to receive the sights U U. The plates H E are grooved to receivetongues on the breech piece A B, by which the latter may be made readilyremovable. Gr is a spring, having a pin which enters a perforation inplate H and piece B, in order to hold the breech-piece detachably. I isa cap-tube, connecting with one of the cartridge-chambers, and J thehammer which strikes upon it. The gun thus constructed is supported uponthe carriage N Q B S T. N is a platform, on the center of which the gunis hinged; Q, a shoulder projecting from the axle; and T, a trail thrownout obliquely from `the shoulder Q to support the gun in a horizontalposition. The platform N likewise serves to regulate the amount ofdeviation allowable on each side of the hinge O. Upon this hinge the gunis turned in sighting it, and a spring, P P, is fixed centrallythereunder, but unfastened at either end.

The mode of operation is as follows: The breech-pieceA B being loadedwith cartridges, fixed in position, and aimed at the object, the hammeris brought down upon the nipple. The cartridge in the flrst chamber isthus ignited, and in quick succession thereafter, but notsimultaneously, all the rest. A momentary interval is required to impartignition through the channels F to the succeeding chambers, and thisprevents the shock and recoil so objectionable in guns of thischaracter.

The cartridges exploding, the balls follow each other from the gun inquick but imperceptible succession, and in lines slightly divergent fromand directed centrally to the object. The breech-piece is immediatelywithdrawn and a duplicate thereof substituted.

This slight lapse of time in changing the breech-pieces is sufficientfor a circulation of air through the barrels, an expulsion of foulinggases, and an absorption of much heat.

Having thus described all that is necessary to a full understanding ofmy invention, what I esteem to be new and desire to protect by LettersPatent, is-

1. A'breech-piece, formed of two pieces, A B, with perforations a b andconverging apertures F at their joint or junction, as and for the'purpose specied.

2. A tongued breech-piece, A B, grooved 4. The arrngement of springB Band hinge platesH E, and detachable pin and spring Gr, O beneath thebarrel, as and for the purpose.

combined as and for the purpose specified. specified.

3. The independent sectional barrels C, the ALFRED H. TOWNSEND.perforated plates D K, and the vbottom plate Witnesses: E, combined,constructed, and pnt together as JAMES W. DRIPs,

. WM. SPRUANGE.

described.

